FAQs: PRINTING United Alliance and Idealliance Merger

PRINTING United Alliance is the most comprehensive member-based printing and graphic arts association in the United States, comprised of the vast communities which it represents. The Alliance serves industry professionals across market segments with preeminent education, training, workshops, events, research, government and legislative representation, safety, and environmental sustainability guidance, as well as resources from the leading media company in the industry – NAPCO Media.

Members have unparalleled access to preeminent education, training, workshops, events, research, government and legislative representation, safety, and environmental sustainability guidance; as well as leading editorial content and thought leadership from NAPCO Media across all printing verticals.

PRINTING United Alliance produces the PRINTING United Expo, the most influential days in printing, being held October 6-8, 2021 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. The expansive display of technology and supplies, education, programming, and services are showcased to the industry at large, representing all market segments.

Idealliance is a graphic communications industry association pioneering workflow transformation for the past 55 years. Idealliance was organized as the Graphic Communication Computer Association as a special industry group of Printing Industries America in 1966. In 2001, the company became an independent association called the International Digital Enterprise Alliance (Idealliance). Idealliance has transformed the printing and packaging supply chain and workflows working around the globe including consolidating eight associations into its portfolio.

Idealliance uniquely engages partners across the entire supply chain – brand owners, content and media creators, agencies, designers, material suppliers, OEMs, technology developers, and print service providers. Idealliance creates solutions to workflow barriers by creating real-world standards and guidelines. Beyond that, the organization simplifies the complexity of workflow improvements by training and certifying teams, systems, and facilities that are essential to the printing and packaging industry.

The traditional segmentation of print providers has continued to converge while shifts in digital printing technologies have accelerated. Over the past few years, PRINTING United Alliance has built an association that addresses all the major segments through expanded membership, an array of events, and industry leading media brands, bringing considerable resources, marketing reach and audiences under one roof. At the same time, Idealliance has developed the expertise to build and rollout not only its traditional color management programs, but new standards training and education. Pairing these two considerable and complimentary portfolios will not only benefit each organization but will benefit the industry, from brands and print buyers, to print service providers, to suppliers and manufacturers.

These likeminded alliances retain a synonymous mission in providing the printing industry with exemplary programming, services, and certifications. The merger is a unique opportunity during a challenging time to further collaborate and utilize the strengths of each organization to serve members and the industry as a whole.

The merger became official on March 1, 2021.

Given the uniqueness of each organization, Idealliance will continue to operate and provide services as normal, but as a division of PRINTING United Alliance.

Ford Bowers will serve as the CEO of the combined organization. Jordan Gorski will serve as Executive Director of Idealliance as a division of PRINTING United Alliance. Idealliance will become an “association within an association” with its own membership base and defined separate programs and services.

In the coming year, it is not expected that training and certification programs at each organization will combine. Each program offering will be available through PRINTING United Alliance and Idealliance separately. PRINTING United Alliance intends to build upon the Idealliance platform of training and certification and in the future streamline offerings.

The membership structure of both companies will remain the same for the time being, so any industry professionals interested in learning more about membership as it pertains to each organization should visit:

• PRINTING United Alliance Membership 
• Idealliance Membership

Will Idealliance continue:

• Engaging and serving all partners in the print and packaging supply chain from brands and print buyers to print services providers to OEMs and technology partners?
• Operating international affiliate to create standards and guidelines to serve global market and improve supply chain?
• Creating and directing training and certification program for professionals, systems, and processes?
• Facilitating and managing its Print Properties Council and collaborating with Committee on Graphics Arts Technology Standards (CGATS), International Color Consortium (ICC), and International Organization for Standardization (ISO)?

The answer to all is “yes!” The intent of the merger is to better utilize the expertise of Idealliance in standardization, training, and certification to create more and targeted content by market segment and learning channels through in-person, self-directed online, or hybrid offerings.

With the merger, Idealliance gains access to new market segments, the marketing power of NAPCO Media, reaching over 235,000 printing professionals each month, the platform of more than 30+ PRINTING United Alliance events, including the largest trade show in printing for the Americas, to bring its color and workflow standards and guidelines, training and certification programs serving professionals, systems, and process, and international affiliates to the total graphic communications industry. No services will be discontinued at this time. Each organization retains its unique events and services.

PRINTING United Alliance will form an Idealliance Advisory Council comprised of the current Idealliance board officers and directors to assist in continuing its global outlook for all partners in printing and packaging on industry standards and guidelines, and training and certification for professionals. Additionally, three current Idealliance board members will join the board of PRINTING United Alliance.

Business operations will fall under the jurisdiction of PRINTING United Alliance. Member services will remain as they currently stand at each company for the foreseeable future.  

PRINTING United Alliance headquarters remain in Fairfax, Virginia. Idealliance will maintain its headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia. Contacts across all organizations remain the same.